– José Mourinho will pay the price for his sending off in Benfica’s match against Real Madrid, after the referee decided to show him a red card in the final moments of the match.
According to UEFA regulations, the Portuguese coach will be suspended for two matches, which means he will miss the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu, as well as a subsequent European match if his team qualifies.
The punishment is not limited to sitting away from the bench, but also prevents him from entering the dressing room or tunnel before the match or during half-time, and he will only be allowed to access them 15 minutes after the end of the match.
This is not the first time Mourinho has experienced this scenario; he has previously watched European matches from outside the stadium due to suspension, most notably during his time at Real Madrid when he watched one of the Clásico matches from a hotel instead of being at the stadium.
Now, Mourinho will find himself away from his team in one of the most important matches of the season, while everyone waits to see how Benfica will cope with his absence on this decisive European night.
